Ocean Current Speed Calculator
Calculate geostrophic current velocity from pressure gradient, latitude, and water density using Coriolis-adjusted equations.
Inputs
Pa/m
°
kg/m³
Results
Geostrophic Velocity
0.01 m/s
Velocity1.34 cm/s
Velocity0.03 knots
Coriolis Parameter (f)0 s⁻¹
Rossby Deformation Radius27.4 km
Ekman Depth52 m
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Pressure Gradient, Latitude, and Water Density.
- Review the Geostrophic Velocity (m/s) result.
- Use Velocity (cm/s) and Velocity (knots) to inform your decision.
How the result changes with Pressure Gradient
| Pressure Gradient | Geostrophic Velocity |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.14 m/s |
| 0.04 | 0.47 m/s |
| 0.07 | 0.87 m/s |
| 0.09 | 1.2 m/s |
What each input means
- Pressure Gradient
- Horizontal pressure gradient in Pascals per meter. Typical open ocean values are 0.0001–0.01 Pa/m.
- Latitude
- Geographic latitude in degrees. Coriolis effect is zero at the equator and maximum at the poles.
- Water Density
- Seawater density. Typical values range from 1020 (warm surface) to 1035 (cold deep water) kg/m³.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input ParametersPressure Gradient = 0.001, Latitude = 30, Water Density = 1025 = 3 input(s) provided
- Calculate Geostrophic VelocityGeostrophic Velocity0.0134 = 0.0134
- Calculate VelocityVelocity1.34 = 1.34
- Calculate VelocityVelocity0.026 = 0.026
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